Losers of the "riches to rags" style

[Sttew]

The story of Sean Dundee got me thinking who are the biggest AFL losers.

South African born Dundee became a running joke in soccer circles. In the mid 90's he had such a good goal scoring reputation and was so highly-rated that the Germans put pressure on him to relinquish his South African nationality and become a German citizen so he could play for their national team. Once he did become a German citizen, however, he never played for the Germans.

There are countless rags to riches stories in the VFL / AFL. But has the VFL / AFL had any "losers" like a Sean Dundee?

Leigh Colbert sort of comes to mind. He gave up the Geelong captaincy and left the club for North Melbourne claiming he had a better chance of playing in a premiership team at North than at Geelong. The Kangaroos did not win a premiership with Colbert and Geelong went on to win its first in 44 years in 2007. Admittedly Colbert had retired by then but he was only 30. Its not quite a Sean Dundee story.

Denis Pagan comes to mind too. The dual premiership coach of North Melbourne was lured across to Carlton
in 2003, only to endure five disastrous seasons where he was forced to "do the donkey work" of rebuilding a playing list ravaged by salary-cap sanctions.

 

[Papa G]

The Melbourne Football Club post 1960.

 

[ninja_lion]

Has to be Nathan "you have to trade me to Collingwood so I can win premierships" Buckley, no?

 

[Ashton Agar]

Carlton

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Carlton

Stephen O'Reilly likes this

 

[Engimal]

Has to be Nathan "you have to trade me to Collingwood so I can win premierships" Buckley, no?

Bloody hell thinking of that makes me laugh.

"I want out of Brisbane. Collingwood is looking at me and I reckon they're worth going to, if I want to win some premierships. North Melbourne and Geelong have made offers as well, but as if they're going to win anything!"

By the time of Buckley's retirement:

Brisbane: 3 premierships
North Melbourne: 2 premierships
Geelong: 1 premiership

Collingwood: 0 premierships

 

[settingthebarLOW]

Chris Tarrant?

 

[tige19]

Bloody hell thinking of that makes me laugh.

"I want out of Brisbane. Collingwood is looking at me and I reckon they're worth going to, if I want to win some premierships. North Melbourne and Geelong have made offers as well, but as if they're going to win anything!"

By the time of Buckley's retirement:

Brisbane: 3 premierships
North Melbourne: 2 premierships
Geelong: 1 premiership

Collingwood: 0 premierships

Did Bucks say this?

 

[Engimal]

Did Bucks say this?

Haha, not exactly. But he had offers from both North and Geelong but chose Collingwood because he thought they were more of a chance for a premiership.

 

[tige19]

Haha, not exactly. But he had offers from both North and Geelong but chose Collingwood because he thought they were more of a chance for a premiership.

Wouldn't surprise me

 

[Jables]

Some absolute champions that just didn't win premierships being mentioned like Bucks (especially considering Collingwood made a grand final on his back basically, even if they were pretenders at the time look at those teams), hardly losers when it comes to how their career panned out individually.

Jonathan Hay, All Australian in 2001 at 21, one of the most promising talls in the competition. One injured year followed by an below average one in 2005 sees him traded to the Roos for a first round pick at the age of 25, plays 7 games then is delisted. I think that pick 7 was Jordan Lewis. I remember reading later he had depression and was a bit of an alcoholic along with taking (too many) prescription meds, hope he's doing well for himself now.

 

[cammo78]

Haha, not exactly. But he had offers from both North and Geelong but chose Collingwood because he thought they were more of a chance for a premiership.

There's a fair bit of myth in this one, most of it perpetuated by North supporters.

Buckley was always going to Collingwood, even before he served his time in Brisbane. The magpies link had that well and truly sealed.

The fact he wasn't interested in offers from North (who were clearly in a far better state premiership wise than Collingwood at the time) had nothing to do with premierships. It's certainly fair to say he felt his chances of a flag would be better served leaving Brisbane - he never once said Collingwood provided a better chance than North, however.

 

[Engimal]

There's a fair bit of myth in this one, most of it perpetuated by North supporters.

Buckley was always going to Collingwood, even before he served his time in Brisbane. The magpies link had that well and truly sealed.

The fact he wasn't interested in offers from North (who were clearly in a far better state premiership wise than Collingwood at the time) had nothing to do with premierships. It's certainly fair to say he felt his chances of a flag would be better served leaving Brisbane - he never once said Collingwood provided a better chance than North, however.

I can only report what I've read and heard, partner.

 

[cammo78]

I can only report what I've read and heard, partner.

It's wrong.

 

[Engimal]

It's wrong.

No, you're wrong. Sorry you had to find out this way.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Leigh Colbert sort of comes to mind. He gave up the Geelong captaincy and left the club for North Melbourne claiming he had a better chance of playing in a premiership team at North than at Geelong. The Kangaroos did not win a premiership with Colbert and Geelong went on to win its first in 44 years in 2007. Admittedly Colbert had retired by then but he was only 30. Its not quite a Sean Dundee story..

We'd just played in 3 GF's in 4 years for 2 flags. So once he'd made his decision to leave Geelong following all the crap he had dealt with there, you can't blame him for wanting to play with us. Plus he did play in a prelim in his first year with us.
Bringing up 2007 is a stretch, he'd been retired for 2 years by then.

You sound a bit bitter using him as an example to push your agenda in this thread.

 

[Suma Magic]

Pending the ASADA outcomes, Goddard.

 

[Vintage]

Seriously, anyone mentioning Buckley in a riches to rags thread? He went on to captain the biggest team in the league, now coaches them and has some rather influential backers. He may not have got a flag, but he's not really struggling.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Jade Rawlings
Most in demand player, who believed his own crap didn't smell
Demands a trade, and goes off to obscurity

 

[boncer34]

No, you're wrong. Sorry you had to find out this way.

No he's not.

Everyone knew he was going to Collingwood at the start of '93. North tried to intervene but they were never ever in the hunt.

 

[Northworth]

Jade Rawlings was a gun and highly sought after... the bloke just wanted to play with his brother and the hawks/dogs organised the Veale deal and the rest was history. My memory of the news the night of trade deadline was a pretty devastated Jade sitting on the floor contemplating his future.

Don't agree with Colbert - he was very good for us and was not likely to be around for Geelong's successful stint.... Also Mooney and Enright were fairly good additions to the Geelong team that went on to such successes

 

[Northworth]

As for Buckley... it was fairly common knowledge he thought Collingwood were a better flag prospect (it would be a factor of most marquee players' decision making on which club to move to)

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/buckleys-20120817-24dua.html

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Here i was thinking that Fevola would have at least made the first 20 posts....

 

[L_W_P]

Jack Anthony - Exciting third tall who was probably the best inside 50 set shot in the AFL in 2009.

Worked with some biomechanical guys to try and change his action and get more distance as he struggled beyond 40m.

Totally blew his routine and was quickly dropped from the side to never be seen again.

Andrew Lovett - The 'missing link' of the Saints premiership hopes. Was brought in on big coin and with big hype only to literally **** up and be sacked before ever playing a game.

Mitch Clark - From borderline AA ruckman at Brisbane to barely getting on the park as a FF for Melbourne. Now he has been traded for Heritier Lumumba, a guy who was practially pushed out the door at Collingwood due to his disruptive behaviour.

 

[JA27]

Buckley actually signed a contract with north while he was still playing for port adelaide. this was well outside the rules of the time and buckley had a change of heart and wanted to give the cash back, north refused but he deposited it into their bingo account. The afl also got wind of this and and north was fined for draft tampering.

Buckley then went to brisbane (even though he wasn't eligible) knowing brisbane and Robert walls would trade him to the club of his choice if he still wanted to leave after playing one year.